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Web Log 'Word Bursts' Could Identify New Crazes

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the bursting-at-the-seams dept.

Zorgatron writes "New Scientist reports that a researcher from Cornell University has come up with clever method of identifying what's cool by automatically searching weblogs. Sudden increases or "bursts" in the usage of particular words may reflect a new craze, according to Jon Kleinberg. He has demonstrated the technique by searching through state of the union addresses given since 1790." I wonder how long before this can be done real time enough to really make this useful.

3 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. Apache Logs too by josephgrossberg · · Score: 3, Interesting

    "Joe Millionaire winner" and "Bubb Rubb" have generated most of my personal blog's hits.

    I, myself, am a distant third.

    Write about enough things and then check your referral logs for Google and Yahoo searches (which include the query in the URL), and you get an imperfect idea of what people are interested in this week.

    --

    Joe
    http://www.joegrossberg.com
  2. Feedback loop and dotcom crash by skillet-thief · · Score: 4, Interesting
    It is kind of like the stock market craze and the theory that "all the information you need to know about a stock is contained in the market itself" (ie. in the stock's chart). Enough people start believing that theory, and the stocks quit behaving rationally.

    The analysis only works if your tool doesn't start modifying the data you are analyzing. If this thing ever caught on, it would quickly become meaningless, because everybody wants to be part of whatever craze is going on. Every morning you check which words are hip, you put them on your website... etc. etc.

    You are right about feedback: the buzz would become a terrible din. That said, it is a cool idea.

    --

    Congratulations! Now we are the Evil Empire

  3. Stamp consumer on my forehead... by tazochai · · Score: 4, Interesting

    .... one more time why don't you. And I quote,

    "For example, identifying word bursts in the hundreds of thousands of personal diaries now on the web could help advertisers quickly spot an emerging craze."

    Gonfonit!!! Why does cool new social technology have to be related to ways to help people sell things to Americans! Why is it okay for us to be considered a nation of consumers, otherwise basically useless biological skinsacks?!

    I'll just strap my wallet to my chest with duct tape now and write my social security number in huge numbers on the back of my t-shirt for fast credit checks.